Smoking is horrible for the gums as it causes the bone underneath to retreat, it causes oral and pharyngeal cancer among other serious cancers! It has also been shown to contribute to cavities! 1-800-QUIT-NOW

"While the available evidence shows that smokeless tobacco may be less dangerous than cigarettes, long-term use of chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products can cause serious health problems. There's no safe level of tobacco use.

That's because chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products can contain about 30 cancer-causing substances. Like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco also contains nicotine, which can cause you to become addicted.

Here's a look at some of the health problems related to smokeless tobacco:

Addiction. Because smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, you can get addicted, just as you can with cigarettes and other tobacco products. Your body may actually absorb as much nicotine from chewing tobacco or snuff as it does from cigarettes. Just as with smoking, withdrawal from smokeless tobacco causes symptoms such as intense cravings, increased appetite, irritability and depressed mood.Cancer. Your risk of certain types of cancer increases if you use chewing tobacco or other types of smokeless tobacco. This includes esophageal cancer and various types of oral cancer, including cancers of your mouth, throat, cheek, gums, lips and tongue. You also face an increased risk of pancreatic cancer."

Are e-cigarettes safe?

There's no scientific evidence that using e-cigarettes(/vaping) is safe.

Because e-cigarettes don't burn tobacco, most experts agree that they're likely to cause fewer harmful effects than traditional cigarettes. Most e-cigarette manufacturers claim that their products are a safe alternative to conventional cigarettes. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has questioned the safety of these products.

Researchers have found that some e-cigarettes have nicotine amounts that are very different from what's on the label. In addition, some flavoring agents and other additives have been shown to be toxic.

The long-term health effects of inhaling vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and other additives are not known. The FDA and many health care organizations, including the American Heart Association, have issued warnings about the health risks of e-cigarettes.

Cavities. Chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco cause tooth decay. That's because chewing tobacco contains high amounts of sugar, which contributes to cavities. Chewing tobacco also contains coarse particles that can irritate your gums and scratch away at the enamel on your teeth, making your teeth more vulnerable to cavities.Gum disease. The sugar and irritants in chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth in the area of your mouth where you place the chew. Over time you can develop gum disease, which can be severe enough to destroy the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth (periodontitis) and lead to tooth loss.

​Tobacco, Cavities, and Cancer

Heart disease. Some forms of smokeless tobacco increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Some evidence suggests that long-term use of smokeless tobacco increases your risk of dying of certain types of heart disease and stroke.Precancerous mouth lesions. Smokeless tobacco increases your risk of developing small white patches called leukoplakia (loo-koh-PLAY-key-uh) inside your mouth where the chew is most often placed. These mouth lesions are precancerous — meaning that the lesions could one day become cancer.

Quitting chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco

If you use chewing tobacco or other forms of smokeless tobacco, quit. And if you're trying to stop using cigarettes, don't switch to smokeless tobacco instead. Smokeless tobacco hasn't been shown to help you stop smoking, and you could end up using both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

To stop using any tobacco product, start by talking to your doctor. Or talk to a counselor from your state's quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669). The National Cancer Institute also offers help at 877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848).

Your doctor or counselor can guide you in creating a quit plan and choosing nicotine replacement products or medications to help ensure success."